Parris got to the point where “enough was enough” and he reached out for help at Guiding Light. He remembers the specific date – January 19 – just as he remembers what he found here: “A lot of structure. A lot of love. Acceptance, wisdom, knowledge. This place made me stand for something. It helped me not only find sobriety but also find myself as a person who I really am, my purpose in life.”
We often try to avoid the things that make us feel uncomfortable: topics, ideas, or actions that might take us to a scary and vulnerable place, such as DEATH. Most of the men in the recovery program were living a figurative death before coming here, controlled by their substance of choice and delusional thinking. A literal death is a too-familiar reality for those living in addiction.
The harsh reality of addiction is that many do not make it to recovery. Many simply do not get it, many die, many move on, struggling to cope by substituting one addiction for another. But few are able to truly reach sobriety and reap the amazing benefits that true recovery offers. The men of Guiding Light Recovery recently had to confront this when a member of their community relapsed.
Andy came to Guiding Light with nothing to lose. His addiction burnt every bridge he had, and he wanted to prove that nothing could change him. Today he is a family man, a business owner, and a shining example of what a little bit of willingness can do for a young man that puts in the work of transformation.
This Easter, Guiding Light Recovery clients Parris and Josh had a chance to speak directly to to the families and communities that support them.
Iron House consists of five buildings of two-bedroom apartments capable of housing over 40 graduated clients of the Guiding Light Recovery program. Recently we gathered together to welcome Chaz and Jerry to their new home.
Not every man that arrives at, or even completes, the Guiding Light Recovery program is guaranteed the opportunity to move to Iron House. Although Iron House offers clients a significant degree of independence and dignity, it is still expected that they follow certain guidelines.
Over the past year, Guiding Light has reflected on how best to serve the needs of our changing community, and we are excited to announce plans to expand our life-saving recovery program to include the women of Grand Rapids.
In the waning days of 2022, Guiding Light signed the ink on the purchase of two homes to provide sober living to women in the Grand Rapids area.
We are honored to name one of our Women’s Recovery homes after long-time Guiding Light Spiritual Director Kare Ruth Devos.
Through the guiding light of God’s Spirit, Guiding Light partners with individuals to fulfill their God-given potential through rescue, recovery and re-engagement in the community.
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